Hydraulic filming or television camera crane

ABSTRACT

A camera crane adapted to support movie or television cameras which is mounted on its own chassis. The camera crane is operatively connected to hydraulic cylinder actuating means mounted on the same chassis. A pumping unit is adapted to pump hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic cylinder actuating means via flexible hose means being in communication, on the one hand, with the pumping unit, and, on the other hand, with the hydraulic cylinder actuating means. The pumping unit being mounted on a separate support structure so that vibrations from the pumping unit during its operation are not transmitted to the camera crane.

United States Patent Inventors Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Priority HYDRAULIC F ILMING OR TELEVISION CAMERA CRANE 6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 182/14, 182/2, 182/63, 182/141; 95/86 Int. Cl B661 11/04; G03b 17/00 Field ofSearch 182/2,63,

141, 148, 13, 14; 95/86; 254/124; 180/2, 66; 2 1 2/(1nquired); 214/(Inquired) Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado A!t0rneyArthur O. Klein ABSTRACT: A camera crane adapted to support movie or television cameras which is mounted on its own chassis. The camera crane is operatively connected to hydraulic cylinder actuating means mounted on the same chassis. A pumping unit is adapted to pump hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic cylinder actuating means via flexible hose means being in communication, on the one hand, with the pumping unit, and, on the other hand, with the hydraulic cylinder actuating means. The pumping unit being mounted on a separate support structure so that vibrations from the pumping unit during its operation are not transmitted to the camera crane.

PATENTED JAN I 2 I97! SHEET 2 BF 4 m .IU y me VHS. m m H S 0 "T. m m A PATENIED JAN 1 2 I97! SHEET 3 BF 4 Fr'gB W- mu C M U. Y. V 3 0 n n W r won w 0m B.W r .r m GT f A NEW SPECIFICATION This application is a division of Ser. No. 509,062 filed Nov.

HYDRAULIC F ILIVTING OR TELEVISION CAMERA CRANE This invention relates to a hydraulic camera crane designed for moving in space a cinematographical or television camera when shooting or IV broadcasting, said camera being at the same time isolated from vibrations and also noises which originate at the hydraulic pump motor.

So far for filming or television purposes hydraulic platforms have been used with the motor and pump mounted on the same chassis as the platform, and after bringing the camera into the desired position, the motor was stopped in order to avoid vibrations or noise during filming or sound recording. With such an equipment it is not possible to shoot during movement of the camera, but only when the camera is in fixed positions.

Dollies are also used with hydropneurnatic accumulators which make possible while filming or TV broadcasting to change the position of the camera without producing vibrations or noise, but the duration of the movement is limited and the fluid pressure decreases too.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate these disadvantages by providing an equipment consisting of a filming or television camera crane mounted on its own chassis, and a pumpingunit mounted on an entirely separate structure, the hydraulic fluid being circulated between pump and crane through flexible hoses that do not transmit vibrations. Thus, the pump motor may run continuously while shooting. At the same time, the noise may be eliminated if the pump is driven by an electrical motor and enclosed together with the latter in a sound proof casing, or if the whole pumping unit is located outside the sound stage, the hydraulic fluid being circulated through pipes and flexible hoses. I

It is another object of this invention to facilitate the transport of the crane by having the crane structure and the pumping unit structure assembled only during the transport, the two structures being separated again for the shooting, without any other link left between them than the flexible hoses through which the hydraulic fluid is pumped and returned. The propulsion motor may be mounted either on thecrane chassis or on the pump chassis, in the latter case driving also the pump.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the possibility of travelling while shooting, without subjecting the camera crane to vibrations generated by the prime mover. To this end the camera crane may be provided with hydraulic motors that receive the hydraulic fluid through flexible hoses from the pumping unit mounted on a separate chassis which is towed by the crane.

' Four examples of embodiments of this invention are set forth in the following description in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation of a camera crane mounted on a lorry, shown in the transport condition;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation of the camera crane of FIG. 2, shown in the transport condition;

FIG. 3 is a schematic rear elevational view illustrating the relative positions of the pumping unit base plate and its hoist ing gear; 7

FIG. 4 is a schematic elevation of a camera crane mounted on a semitrailer which is towed by a tractor, shown in the transport condition;

FIG. 5 is a schematic elevation of the camera crane of FIG. 4, shown in the shooting condition;

FIG. 6 is a schematic elevation of a camera crane mounted on a dolly andhaving a soundproofed pumping unit mounted on a separate truck;

. FIG. 7 is a schematic top plan view of a camera crane of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic top plan view of a camera crane sup: plied with hydraulic fluid by a pumping unit located outside the sound stage.

The hydraulic camera crane has, in a first embodiment. a turning structure 1, a lower boom 2, an upper boom 3 and a platform 4 on which is located a column 5 supporting the camera and the seats for the cameraman and his assistant. The

turning structure I is rotated by a hydraulic mechanism 6; the

lower boom by a hydraulic cylinder 7; and the upper boom is lifted by a cylinder 8. The hydraulic fluid is pumped from a tank by three pumps 10, one supplying the rotating mechanism 6, another the lower cylinder 7 and the third the upper cylinder 8. The hydraulic actuators are controlled through valves 11, some mounted down near the turning structure where they can be reached by the crane operator, and the others up, near the platform, to be operated by the cameraman or his assistant. The camera craneis mounted on the chassis of a lorry 13. The pumps 10 are mounted together with an internal combustion motor 14 on-a separate base plate 15, hoisted by a component 16 of a hydraulic parallelogram mechanism 17. The lorry is provided with two pairs of outrigger jacks I8, with a fork R9 for sustaining the upper boom 3, and a hydraulic pump 20 driven by the lorry gear box in a well-known way.

During the transport the, camera crane is assembled as illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper boom being fixed on the fork l9 and the baseplate 15 of the pumpingunit being raised. After arrival on location, the pumping unit is lowered to the ground by the mechanism 17, the lorry is pushed slightly forward in order to be separated from the base plate 15 and the fluid between the camera crane and the pumping unit is circulated through four flexible hoses 21, three of which are pressure conduits and the forth. is a suction conduit. The crane is stabilized and its axis of rotation set at the vertical by means of the outrigger jacks 18. Both the mechanism 17 and the jacks 18 are supplied with hydraulic fluid by the pump 20.

From FIG. 3 it is apparent that the component 16 protrudes under the base plate 15, between them remaining a clearance a. Owing to this arrangement the base plate 15 reaches the ground before the mechanism 17 has completed its stroke. in

' a second embodiment, shown'in FIGS. 4 and 5, a camera crane consisting essentially of thesa me components as the camera crane illustrated in FIG. 1 is mounted on a semitrailer .22 towed by a tractor 23. The hydraulic fluid is supplied by a set of three pumps 10, driven through a belt transmission 24 by an intermediate gear 25 coupled to the gear case of the truck. The semitrailer is provided with a pair of hydraulic jacks 26, which are retractable and are retracted during the transport of the device. After arrival on location the camera crane is separated from the tractor, as shown in FIG. 5, the jacks 26 are lowered so that the semitrailer reposes on them, and the hydraulic fluid is circulated between the camera. crane and pumps through four flexible hoses 21, three of which-are pressure conduits and the fourth a return conduit.

In a third example of application shown in FIGS.; 6 and-7,

the camera crane has a single boom 27 and a chassis 28. The

boom is lifted by means of a hydraulic cylinder-7,the upper end of the boom being provided with a platforma4 supportinga column 5 on which the camera, a seat 29 for the cameraman and eventually also a seat for an assistant are fixed. Thechas sis 28 is supported on two pairs of wheels 30, and; 3 1, the wheels 31 being provided with hydraulic motors 32.,Allfour wheels of the camera crane can be steered in ordertopermit forward or lateral travelling of the camera crane. The front wheels 30can be steered by means of a conventionalsteering linkage controlled through the steering wheel 33 by thecrane operator. sitting on the seat 12. The hydraulic fluid is supplied by a pumping unit located on its own chassis 34 and consisting of two pumps 35, one supplying the cylinder 7 and the other the motors 32; and electric motor 36 is connected to the pumps 35 by means of a V-belt transmission37 and an oil tank 9 supplies the hydraulic fluid. The electric motor and the pumps are enclosed in a soundproof casing 38. Electricpower is supplied from the mains or from a generating set, througha cable 39 reeled on a drum 40, which is driven by means of a friction clutch 41, a pulley 42 and a V-belt 43 by one of the rear wheels 44. Thus the mechanism pays out a length of cable equal to the distance travelled by the truck. In case there is no power supply available, the pumps 35 can be driven by an internal combustion motor 14 coupled through V-belts (not shown) to the pumps shaft. This latter type of operation is not as noiseless, but it ensures a high degree of maneuverability. The hydraulic fluid is circulated between pumps and dolly through four flexible hoses 21, two of which are pressure conduits and two are return conduits. The flexible hoses are coupled to hose connections 45. For towing, the pump unit truck is provided with a connecting rod 46 engaging a hook 47 of the dolly chassis. In order to provide also for lateral movements of the dolly, hose connections 45 and hooks 47 are mounted also on the sides of the dolly chassis. The truck 34 is mounted on two pairs of wheels 44 and 48, the front wheels 48 being steerable by means of a steering linkage controlled by the steering rod 46.

A fourth example of application of this invention shown in FIG. 8 is based on the same camera crane design as in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pump unit consisting of a tank 9, a pump 35, an electric motor 36 and the belt transmission 37, said pumping unit being however situated outside the sound stage and the hydraulic fluid being supplied to the sound stage through a pressure conduit and returning through a conduit 50. In order to avoid the transmission of noise into the stage, the conduits are provided, between the pumping unit and the wall, with flexible hoses 21. inside the sound stage the conduits are provided with connections 51 to which rigid pipes 52 and flexible hoses 21 can be connected in order to assure the hydraulic circuit to the cylinder 7.

It is to be understood that in the foregoing examples it is immaterial whether the concept of the invention is applied to platforms with articulated booms or to single boom camera cranes, the particular choice made in the drawings or the descriptions being only by way of illustration It is to be understood too that it is also possible to combine various features, e.g., to design a camera crane mounted on a lorry as illustrated in FIG. 1, but supplied with oil from a pumping unit located on a trailer similar to the truck in H68. 6 and 7, or to design a camera crane mounted on a semitrailer, as in FIGS. 4 and 5, but supplied with oil from a pumping unit located outside the sound stage, as shown in F IG. 8.

It will be appreciated that by application of this invention the following advantages may be obtained:

. an unlimited duration of the movements during the shootthe elimination of vibration;

the elimination of noise, when a sound proof pumping set is used, or the hydraulic fluid is supplied from outside the sound stage;

first pair of wheels which is rotatably and steerably mounted in said first chassis, steering means mounted in said first chassis and operatively connected to said first pair of wheels, second hydraulic actuating means mounted in said first chassis and operatively connected to said pair of wheels for driving them. pump means spaced from said first chassis, flexible conduit means connected to said pump means, on the one hand, and said first and second hydraulic actuating means, on the other hand, and adapted to conduct hydraulic fluid under pressure thereto, and a motor spaced from said first chassis and operatively connected to said pump means and ada ted to drive said pump means; whereby said 11st and second ydraultc actuating means are adapted to selectively respectively actuate said boom and said first pair of wheels when being energized by said pump means.

2. The camera crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first chassis includes a second pair of wheels steerably mounted in said first chassis, said steering means also being connected to said second pair of wheels.

3. The camera crane as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first transport means is located in a sound stage and said pump means and said motor are mounted outside said sound stage, said flexible conduit means extending from said pump means outside said sound stage to said first chassis inside said sound stage.

4. The camera crane as claimed in claim 3, including second transport means connected to said first transport means and adapted to move jointly therewith, said second transport means having a second chassis, said pump means and said motor being mounted on said second chassis.

5. The camera crane as claimed in claim 3, wherein said motor is an internal combustion engine.

6. The camera crane as claimed in claim 4, wherein said motor is an electric motor, at least one third pair of wheels rotatable and steerably mounted in said second chassis, an electric power source, electric conduit means connecting said electric motor to said electric power source, and a pulley rotatably mounted on said second chassis and operatively connected to said third pair of wheels, said electric conduit means being spooled on said pulley and being adapted to be paid out by said pulley in accordance with the movement of said second transport means. 

1. A camera crane, comprising in combination, first transport means having a first chassis, a boom pivotally mounted on said first chassis, first hydraulic actuating means operatively connected to said boom said first chassis having at least one first pair of wheels which is rotatably and steerably mounted in said first chassis, steering means mounted in said first chassis and operatively connected to said first pair of wheels, second hydraulic actuating means mounted in said first chassis and operatively connected to said pair of wheels for driving them, pump means spaced from said first chassis, flexible conduit means connected to said pump means, on the one hand, and said first and second hydraulic actuating means, on the other hand, and adapted to conduct hydraulic fluid under pressure thereto, and a motor spaced from said first chassis and operatively connected to said pump means and adapted to drive said pump means; whereby said first and second hydraulic actuating means are adapted to selectively respectively actuate said boom and said first pair of wheels when being energized by said pump means.
 2. The camera crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first chassis includes a second pair of wheels steerably mounted in said first chassis, said steering means also being connected to said second pair of wheels.
 3. The camera crane as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first transport means is located in a sound stage and said pump means and said motor are mounted outside said sound stage, said flexible conduit means extending from said pump means outside said sound stage to said first chassis inside said sound stage.
 4. The camera crane as claimed in claim 3, including second transport means connected to said first transport means and adapted to move jointly therewith, said second transport means having a second chassis, said pump means and said motor being mounted on said second chassis.
 5. The camera crane as claimed in claim 3, wherein said motor is an internal combustion engine.
 6. The camera crane as claimed in claim 4, wherein said motor is an electric motor, at least one third pair of wheels rotatable and steerably mounted in said second chassis, an electric power source, electric conduit means connecting said electric motor to said electric power source, and a pulley rotatably mounted on said second chassis and operatively connected to said third pair of wheels, said electric conduit means being spooled on said pulley and being adapted to be paid out by said pulley in accordance with the movement of said second transport means. 